Updates: Flyers one of the East’s “Beasts”?

Sergei J. Feldman of NHL.com has a piece up this week chronicling in his mind the four “Beasts” of the Eastern Conference heading into the 2010-2011 regular season. In Feldman’s opinion, the top four teams in the East this season are (in no particular order): the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and, you guessed it – your Philadelphia Flyers.

Not many doubt the Flyers' chances to repeat as East Champs

Here’s what he has to say about the boys from Broad Street:

Last year’s amazing run can propel the Flyers to a more consistent year this year and Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Chris Pronger figure to play important roles in that pursuit. Plus, you can’t disregard last year’s Eastern Conference champs.

Short, simple, and to the point. No reason to disagree with Feldman here, either. The Flyers may have caught a bit of lightning in a bottle and had many things fall their way en route to their first Eastern Conference title since 1997, but that certainly doesn’t mean that it was a fluke that the Orange and Black were the East’s top dog last season. I feel the same way as Feldman about the Flyers being grouped with the Devils, Caps, and Pens – the East’s elite. The Flyers are certainly in the group, and the deserve to be heavily in the conversation when it comes to talking about who can win the Eastern Conference in 2010-2011.